A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilisa Drake and narrated by Cecily Foster is the first book in the Kingdom of Dark Magic series and I loved it, this audiobook was so good I ended up listening to it whilst I was shopping, and window shopping. My mind was miles away in the cold Castle Greymere, even though! I am so glad I never saw any Vampires whilst out shopping!!! and I am glad it was warm out! 😂

Samara is now twenty years old, she is finally coming to her end of her sentence in prison, but she has no idea why is is there!! Sadly she has been stuck in there since she was a young child and only eight years old. She was sentenced for a crime she did not commit. Samara is bullied by all the guards and is tormented by the screams of the other prisoners within the prison throughout the day and especially throughout the night!.
Samara needs to be strong to leave this prison and survive, she must deal with the most dangerous prisoner of them all!

But, as days go by to her freedom she learns that her freedom that has been promised is the cruelest lie she would ever be told!!!! No one leaves Greymere alive. and now and she is faced with a resign herself to dying in the cold walls of Castle Greymere, or do the unthinkable and escape. So to break out of the prison? She will have to use one of the undead.

Now, Raphael is the worst kind of a vampire with a massive thirst for blood, the mortal enemy of witches, the same breed that killed her mother. And most importantly, he’s unspeakably powerful, his supernatural strength tamed only by the enchanted cuffs forced on him.

He’s her only chance at a life outside the prison walls.

The deal is Samara unlocks his shackles, and he'll help her escape. But although Raphael agreed to help her leave Greymere, he never promised to let her go…

WoW this audiobook is so good and the narrator Cecily Foster was superb.

I was lucky to receive the audiobook and book and I recommend them both.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Audio ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for my ARC.

I LOVED this! The story was so much fun and enjoyable (dark and traumatic as well) the narration was really fun, I really liked the voices. They did a really good job bringing these characters to life. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
Highly recommend

Daddy Raphael, oh my gosh. The twists and turns and b l o o d shed! I loved it. I think I am turning morally grey. Sam has so many questions unanswered still and I love that because then we have things to look forward to learning about her in the next books which I will DEVOUR!!! I cannot get enough of this and her self restraint in the slow burn. YES PLEASE.

I did listen to the audiobook and it was CHEF'S KISS!

I loved it in short! This book was twisty and made you fall in love with both main characters Samara and Rafael! Samara being torn between what she grew up knowing and is now experiencing and a vampire with secrets make just the perfect pair!
Cecily foster was a fantastic narrator. She brought the characters to life with feeling and spoke how I would have imagined the characters brought to life!

I love a good vampire book and this one did not disappoint.i was invested in the story, the characters had strong development and the magic system was unique. Cliffhanger for sure and I cannot wait for the next book!

I really enjoyed this!

Samara is such an interesting FMC, imprisoned at age eight after her mother is accused of treason we meet her twelve years into her fifteen year sentence. Except its not just another three years of catching rats to eat and serving in the prison, it's a lifetime sentence and she's not doing that.

Raphael our MMC is less interesting than Sam and his identity twist was obvious as soon as Vampire Kings were announced as a thing. He's protective but condescending and I'm not sure if I liked him but I did like Samara.

The twist at the end while a little predictable - hints all the way back in chapter one or two when he couldn't mind control her - was satisfying.

I did think that it would be revealed that Sam was the bastard child of the king but I was wrong.

Looking forward to the next book! I can't wait to find out what her mother did to get them both classed as traitors and how the events in the last two chapters will spiral out into the sequel!

A Bargain so Bloody
Vasilisa Drake

Y’all! This was quite honestly a 12 star book! Literally my favorite book I’ve read this year! I couldn’t get enough of it. I was captivated by it and literally obsessed with it. I’ve told everyone about this book, it is a must read for anyone who loves fantasy or romantasy!

Vampires and witches
Card based magic
Forced proximity
Slowest of burns
Insane plot twists
Enemies to lovers

I immediately ran to Drake’s Instagram page to see if her arc team was open… It wasn’t, so I went to her website and signed up for her newsletter… anything to get my foot in the door because I need book 2, immediately! Vasilisa Drake , I’m begging… Not even gonna lie you have a new super fan. I am available, ready and willing if you need an ARC reader of book 2.

I don’t read much fantasy because honestly, I get confused. Not with Drake’s writing. I was eating it up, it was so easy for me to follow.

The FMC Samara has some major growth during the story. She turns from meek and quiet to pretty much a bad ass. The MMC is a vampire named Rafael. He is imprisoned in the same place as Samara and they make a deal for her to help him break out of prison.. that’s all I’m telling you, any more and I’ll spoil something.

I’m not going into details, but there are some major plot twists that you will not see coming. The epilogue will make you say WTF… And then have you also running to Drake’s Instagram to try to sign up for anything and everything you can get your hands on.

This is my favorite book so far this year. I’m obsessed!

I did do the audiobook, the narrator knocked it out of the park. Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish between which character is speaking whenever there’s only one person narrating, not with this one. Cicely Foster did an incredible job narrating this one. I highly recommend the audio version. I loved it enough to say it’s my favorite audiobook of the year!

This was a really engrossing story, and a lot of fun to read as an audiobook. It's a very slow burn romantasy that you can tell is setting the scene for a longer series. I generally prefer a leeeetle less slow of a burn but I can tell the author is building to something. The magic system and political intrigue is interesting, but not overly complicated, and the characters kept me interested. I felt very invested in Sam's inner turmoil over trusting Raphael, and the ending absolutely left me wanting to read the next book.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh wow.....this book 🔥 I was lucky enough to have an ALC of this book, and I was so intrigued by the synopsis.
We follow our FMC Samara, a void (human), who starts off in prison for a crime she did not commit. It's here she meets our MMC, Raphael, a vampire captured and placed in the prison.
Samara has to make a choice, make a deal with a vampire, or live out her life in prison. The romance is the slooooooowest of burns! It is FIRE though! Raphael is the.....so much as offend Samara and go bye-bye type 🤣🥰
The world itself has vampires, humans (voids), witches, seers, and deities. There is also a magic system based around Tarot Cards, found family, court politics, intrigue, and traitors.
The vampire law is pretty true to traditional laws for vamps. For those who like some forced proximity, one bed, one horse tropes included in their romantasy its in here and done really well. It doesn't come across as tropes added to appeal to readers with no reason. Each is there as part of the plot and is 🔥.
I found myself wanting more and constantly wanting to get further into the book to see what happens next 🤣. I hadn't heard much about the book, as I did not want it spoiled, short of people's love for it, and it was hidden identity with shocking twists. I did see them coming, but it didn't bother me. I've found very few books that can surprise me these days as I read so many, lol. This is the first book in a new series, and the slow burn, the no spice was a little frustrating. Not enough to change my rating as I fell in love with Raphael 🤣. I can't wait for the next books, AND I know the spice will be worth the wait, I hope it's not too long of a wait, as this couple is 🔥! Warning, this does end on a cliffhanger.
The audio book was narrated by Cecily Foster, who I think is a new name to me, but the narration was brilliant!! I highly recommend the audio version.
Thank you netgalley for the ALC! I'm going to be recommending this to everyone I know 🥰

This book tore into me with sharp teeth and soft lies. Vasilia Drake knows how to write tension that feels like it’s going to snap at any second.

The main character starts off locked in a cell for a crime she didn’t commit. Then in walks a vampire with power, presence, and her only chance at freedom. He quickly ends up giving off that “you’re mine and I’ll burn the world to keep you breathing” energy.

He makes her feel safe. He puts her in charge of an important task, but it feels less like a job and more like an excuse to keep her close. I think he knew more than he let on. He always did. And maybe that’s what hurts the most when the betrayal hits.

Her mother was murdered by a vampire. Her hate runs deep. Her attraction to him runs deeper. She’s torn between wanting him and wanting revenge on all vampires as a whole. The supporting character were well written and add so many layers to this story.

And then she does what broken people do. The fallout is brutal. What’s revealed in those final moments is game changing..

The narrator delivers every moment with precision. Her voice carried the FMC’s guarded rage and quiet unraveling like she was living it. Every line had weight.

For readers who love morally gray characters, dangerous bargains, and a romance built on ashes and consequences, this is it. Dark. Sharp. Addictive. That final scene sets the stage for war, but my heart hurts for Raphael. Hooked line and sinker, impatiently awaiting book two.

Special thanks to @Netgalley and @VictoryEditing for the privilege to review this audiobook in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

WHAT A RIDE this book was! I absolutely loved the tension and intensely slow burn of this novel. The world building was so fun and magic system kept me interested the entire time. The fan service of common tropes were like fun little surprises while listening and I was blown away by the twist at the end. I really am so grateful for my ARC audio copy I was able to enjoy thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley,l that I ended up purchasing my own copy to reread in a handheld format and annotate later.

Regarding the audiobook copy, I felt the narrator fit the story well and it was like I was being told a tale around a campfire the entire time. The feminine voice was perfect for our main character’s POV. I typically don’t enjoy a first-person POV in stories but the narrator had an enjoyable tone and pace so I could enjoy the ride! The book flowed easily with her pacing of the read and I really appreciated her banter as the MC and her retorts when speaking as the ML! Kept it fun and entertaining. I doubt I will listen to this audiobook again (solely because I prefer handheld reading more) but I am thankful this was my intro to this amazing book.

4/5 stars from me because although it wasn’t a perfect book (if anything slightly too long but still enjoyable) it was still a VERY entertaining read. Highly recommend! And a belated congratulations on Vasilisa’s publication day! GO GRAB IT!

And a big thank you again to Vasilisa Drake, her publishing company, and NetGalley for the ARC! 🩷

5 stars from me! I absolutely LOVED this book.

From the very first chapter, A Bargain So Bloody had me hooked. Vasilisa Drake delivers a dark, seductive romantasy that blends danger and desire in all the best ways. The worldbuilding was immersive without being overwhelming—just the right amount to draw you in without bogging you down. Gotta love high stakes and great chemistry.

Samara is imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit and forced into the grunt work of a magicless prison. When she’s assigned to tend to a shackled vampire’s wounds, things take a turn—and yes, a bargain is struck.

Some things I loved:
- The tension, oh the tension! I swear, if I were in Sam’s shoes, this would not have been a slow burn. I was practically begging her to cave.
-Touch her and die... need I say more! (This is one of my favorite tropes!)
- The magic system is unique and cleverly integrated into the plot.
- Samara is a total badass and survivor, and Raphael is the epitome of a morally grey, broody vampire with just enough vulnerability to make you swoon.
- The pacing was spot-on. I never felt like it dragged, and the story kept me engaged from start to finish.
- Even though the audiobook had solo narration, Cecily Foster did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. Her performance added so much depth to the story.

Ahh I cannot wait for the next book!!!!

This was exactly what I was looking for!! What an amazing story. I really enjoyed the narration on this one!!

This book was so good. The audio was amazing. The plot was perfect. The love romance was great. You can sense her coming around and then still go behind his back right up till the last page. It was intense highly recommend cannot wait for the second book.

Vampires and Witches oh my.
Samara has been held prisoner in greymere since she was a young child after her mother was brutally unalived by a vampire.
She was their slave and was tasked to apply salve to the new prisoner who turned out to be a vampire.
Before leaving he makes her an offer she cannot refuse.
Her payment for helping her escape sets them on a destination of something thought to be a myth. The chemistry is instant but Rapheal is keeping secrets. Samara is as well only she doesn’t know what it is herself. This book ends on a cliffhanger and there is maybe one chili pepper for spice but I look for that to change in book 2.
Enemies to …..
He falls first
Vampires/witches
Forced proximity

What the actual fuck just happened! How do you end a book on this cliffhanger!!! I am hooked, I want the next one, I want them all!!!! Very few times, I've had this feeling when finishing a book, and @vasilisadrakebooks gave me all the feels. We have slowburn romance, forced proximity, vampires, and witched and magical cards. The unrelenting tension and buildup were intoxicating, and the storyline was fantastic! @cecilysexily had the perfect fantasy drawl, and overall, it all just worked well. Fantasy girls, this is your time to shine. This book has it all - run to the shops - it was released on 30 June 2025!!

Thank you to @netgalley and @victoryeditingngc for my Advanced Copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book hooked me so fast. An over protective vampire, a trapped girl and lots of secrets made this such a fun book. Cecily Foster did an amazing job brining this story to life.

Slow burn, dark fantasy, secrets, touch her and die.

Raphael isnt just morally grey, he will kill anyone and anything that gets in his way without hesitation. Including anything that tries to hurt the human he used to escape from the magic prison he ended up in. But why was he there? So many secrets.

Samara is finally free, for the first time in her adult life, no one to take her in, no one to help. She is a Void in a world of vampires and witches trying to find her place. No one who knew her is alive or remembers, except wait? Her dad is alive? And she knew the prince? What actually happened to have her sent away?? So many more secrets.

I throughly enjoyed this book. The pacing, the style, the characters all drew me in from the beginning. A unique magic system where witches can create power cards to sell and trade and vampires rule their own lands. While I found the ending "plot twist" very predictable, I was still so excited to watch it all play out. This story left me with so many questions, but in the most satisfying way and I will be anxiously waiting for book 2!

Thank you to netgalley, Vasilisa Drake, and Victory editing for this ALC!

Let’s this be your next vampire romantasy obsession. I listened to this in one day! It’s that good. Not only was the story a 10/10… the audio book make it even that much better.

The magic system was unique, the world building was rich but also easy to follow, the banter and tension was perfection, and the vibes were on point.

The ending…..I need the next book asap!

Thank you so much for the ALC!

Review for A Bargain So Bloody, by Vasilisa Drake.

I love vampire romance books and this book hit every expectation! I need the next book now!

Samara as a child was sentenced to prison for a crime she didn’t commit. After finding out the possibility of release once her sentence was served was at the discretion of a noble who disliked her she decided to take matters into her own hands. A new prisoner was just brought in, a dangerous and powerful vampire. She had previously refused to make a bargain with him but now has changed her mind. With a bargain set to get her safely out of the prison she unshackles the vampire and he proceeds to kill every guard and she finally escapes.
Fantastic pace, enough yearning and action to keep you interested!
Forbidden romance, SLOW BURN, he falls first, forced proximity, 1 bed, 1 horse, touch her and 💀or have your hands ripped off!
A big thank you to the author, Audio Arc, Victory Editing & Netgalley for the audiobook ARC. Loved this so much!

I listened to the arc as an audiobook and I was intrigued from the very beginning. The narrator was good and easy to listen to but I felt like the story just went one. There wasn’t too much overly shocking or anything that grasped my attention to want to keep up with it. Once the characters are established and they get past some of their first hurdles and complications, it plateaus for a quite a bit in my opinion. There’s a very, very slow burn relationship - if you’re looking for passion between characters, this may not scratch your itch. Overall, it was a good listen and it lends to a sequel (which seems like it may be more adventurous than book 1). It was a good, enjoyable and easy listen.